Signal for auto-drivers.



T. M. SIVHTHL SIGNAL FOR AUTO DRIVERS. APPLICATION FILED 05c. 18. I916.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

wearer.

THo'M'As 'MAnsHALL sMITi-I, OFBALTIlVIORE, MARYLnivD.

steam. rota Acre-mavens.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. s, leis.

Application filed December 18, 1916. Serial No. 137,693.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS MARSHALL SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Baltimore, Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signals for Auto-Drivers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to signaling devices whereby the driver of an automobile may give a signalgat night-by a motion of his arms'similar to that which is required by the police regulations in many localities to indicate when the driver intends to stop the machine or make a turn 'and in carrying out the invention an electric lamp is carried on the arm'of the driver so that the-driver of the following automobile may readily see the signal at night.

The invention consists in the features of combination and arrangementof parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure l is a side elevation of the device attached to the, sleeve of the user, and

FigJQ- is an elevation'of the device at a quarter turn'from that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, is a sectional view taken transversely of the casing and its supporting bracket. I

. In the drawings 1 indicates an incandescent electric light globe carried by the body 2 of substantiallythe same form as is in commercial useland "to this lamp'wires 3, 4 are connected, these being surrounded by suitable insulation at 5 at their point of juncture with the lamp body. This lamp is held within a barrel or casing 6 having a closed end at 7 and having a cap 8 to close its open end, this cap being provided with an opening 9 for the passage of the conductor wires 3, 4. The casing or barrel has a laterally disposed opening 10 through which the light may be observed. For giving a red signal I use a glass tube 11 open at both ends and fitting closely to the interior Walls of the casing or barrel, this glass tube receiving within it the electric lamp and serving as a protection or shield to the bulb thereof. This glass extends from end to end of the casing and abuts against the head or closed end 7 and as it covers the lateral opening 10 and has the light back of it this light will show through the red glass exposed at this lateral openglass tube and serves tocenter the lamp.

The barrel or casing is supported in a sheet metal bracket 14, which may be of substantially circular form with its ends passing through an opening in the upper arm 15 of a. clamping member and the bracket may be held by solderat this point. The circular main body portion of the bracket embraces the barrel or casing of the lamp fitting for this purpose between ribs 16 on the barrel, by which the barrel is prevented trom having longitudinal movement in relation to the bracket but may be turned about its axis in said bracket for a purpose hereinafter described.

The device may be attached to the glove of the driver or a wrist strap or to the edge of his sleeve at the wrist by means Off a clamp of substantially ordinary form, such as shown in the drawing, which includes the upper and lower members 15, 16 pressed together by a spring clip 17 of substantially cylindrical form, this spring clip also acting as the main body of the clamp and holding'theu'pper and lower meiinbersin proper relation to each other. The cylindrical spring clip, as just stated, is in tubular or cylindrical form and as shown in Fig. 1 extends with its axis at right angles to the axis of the casing of the device and it will be noticed that the clamping jaws are of considerable extent so that firm clamping engagement may be secured by these jaws upon the edge of the sleeve of the coat of the driver. The lower member 16 of the clamp is provided with a finger-piece or button 18, made of celluloid, fiber or other sub stance that will provide a. good gripping surface for the fingers in manipulating the clamp and will also furnish a smooth sur face to avoid abrasion of the hand of the user. The relation of the tubular casing containing the lamp to the clamp is such that the said casing forms in effect an ex tension of the upper member of the clamp and the operator in applying or removing the clamp will naturally grasp the button 18 with his thumb and the tubular casing with his finger and by reason of the long leverage provided by the casing forming an extension of the clamping arm the clamp may be the user at 19. This support may be in the 7 form of a spring clip having an opening through which the lead wires eictend at 20 and by reason of this support the stretch of wire between it and the lamp is not subjected to any strain or lateral displacement, tending to cant the device from its position. All strains which may be put upon the lead wires at points between the support 19 and the battery will be taken up by this support and prevented from being communicated to the lamp and the cover 8, so that this cover readily may be held in place by friction alone.

As above stated the casing may be rotated within the bracket let and thereby the display opening; 10 may be positioned to the right or left-hand side of the device to suit either style of car, right-hand control or left-hand control.

The edge of the opening. 9 in the cap 8 is turned outwardly so as to'prevent the raw edge of this opening from abrading the insulation of the lead wires 3, 4.

It will be understood that the wearer of the device need only position his arm or wave his arm carrying the lamp and thereby give a signal to a following automobile or to a crossing policeman to indicate danger to the following automobile or the direction he intends to take to the crossing policeman.

The glass tube not only acts as a protector for the glass globe of the lamp but will insulate the lamp body from the casing.

The casing may be held in its difierent positions within the bracket by a nib on the casing entering depressions on the bracket, as indicated at a", it being understood that there is one of these depressions for each po sition of the casing. f I

What I claim is: I

1. In combination an electric lamp, a casing inclosing the same and having its axis coinciding'with that ofthe lamp, a clamp consisting of two members on-one ofwhich the casing is directly mounted to move therewith as one body, said clamp attachingthe casing to the user with the axis of thecasing parallel with the a-Xisof his arm, wrist, or hand, lead wires extending .to the lamp through the rear end of the casing, said casing havinga lateral openingfor the display of light and means for holding the lead wires at a point in rear of the lamp and substantially co-axial therewith, the said means being adapted to be supported on the arm of the user, substantially as described.

2. In combinationan electric lamp, a revoluble cylindrical casing inclosing' the same and having a single opening in its lateral wall, leaving the opposite wall intact to serve as a reflector, a clamp composed of two movable members, one or which is at its end provided with an upstanding bracket embracing the revoluble cylindrical casing at a point in rear of the openingtherein leaving the perforated end of the cylinder overhanging and extending beyond the clamp and lead wires extending from the other end of the cylindrical casing, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

THOMAS 'MARSHALL SMITH.

0091:! of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner. of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

